No comments about Sylloge of Islamic Coins: The Egyptian Dynasties.

2 comments about The 2000 Commemorative Stamp Yearbook.

1. I love these books and buy them every year. I was started at the age of 6 by my dear departed uncle on collecting stamps. I can now share this simple joy with my own nieces and nephews. The book is full of information and photos relating to each postal issue (complete commemorative issues for the year). And the copies I have purchased new from the original vendor, obviously the US Postal Service, have come with the stamps and the protective sleeves to insert each stamp into before mounting them in the book itself. (I have noticed some offered on the secondary market are without the stamps.)

   They are each different in design each year and covered in a durable laminated type cover. A collection of these in the book case would provide many hours of entertainment year ofter year, without turning on a tv or a computer. They would offer a great family activity to work through and study upon the subjects included in the yearbooks. You know what they say about learning something new everyday....




2. If you know someone who enjoys collecting stamps, or enjoys learning about Americana, then this is the a good book for that person. The very nice hard bound book contains the commemorative stamp series for the year 2000. What is cool is that the actual stamps are enclosed. Surrounding each stamp is about two pages devoted to describing the history and background of the stamp and its subject.

   I do not keep books on my coffee table, but I would assume that this would be a good book for that purpose. I enjoyed receiving this book as a gift, and I am sure others would as well.

No comments about Depression Glass: Warman's Companion (Warman's Companion: Depression Glass).

2 comments about Antique Quilts & Textiles: A Price Guide to Functional and Fashionable Cloth Comforts.

1. I wasn't very impressed with this book. I think I was looking more for an unbiased price guide. I find it hard to believe it when appraisors are appraising things that they own.



2. This is the best of the best book. All quilters who wish to have knowledge MUST OWN this book. Dated information, dated quilts, dated fabric rolled in one book is a value to you.

5 comments about Fountain Pens: Their History and Art.

1. This handsome volume reflects the high quality standards, cantankerous spirit, and eccentrically traditionalist preferences that seem to characterize many of us who are drawn to the impractical beauty we call insist upon calling fountain pens.
   
   An introduction and six chapters tell the story of this writing instrument, its long evolution, its demise in the twentieth century, and its rebirth as a collector's item here in our twenty-first. Five lavishly illustrated chapters meander their way from the pre-fountain-pen spectacle of rooms-full of 'inexpensive scribes' with quill in hand doing the work of a small iiterate class ('Pre-1880s: before the fountain pen', pp. 22-39) on to moderate levels of pen production ('1880-1910: early marketing efforts, pp. 40-52) to the rise of a corporate behemoth (1910-1925: competing with Sheaffer', pp. 54-85) to the fountain pen's twentieth century misfortuntes ('1930-1940: how the depression affected the market', pp. 86-107); '1945: the war: how bargain debasement nurtured the ballpoint pen', pp. 108-121) and finally to a day when--mirabile dictu--people write books about fountan pens ('The future: the rebirth of the cottage industry', pp. 122-128).
   
   Mr. Steinberg is neither an economist or sociologist and so given to amusingly sweeping explanations of pen life: 'By the 1930s the world was in the grips of the Great Depression. The public wanted to be dazzled by technological marvels to take their minds off their economic woes. Hence the uncommon popularity of the Schneider Trophy seaplane races and the land-speed record attempts ... For fountain pen design, the Great Depression made utilitarianism and functionality the order of the day.'
   
   However, Steinberg *is* a lover of pens and that's why he's a capable author of a coffee-table illustrated book like this one.
   
   One closes this book with several impressions forming themselves in his brain.
   
   First, there is the sheer technological challenge of making a pen where ink flows in the directions it's supposed to, with tolerable evenness, and a refusal to leak. This is one of those small technological adventures that culminates in something the rest of us take for granted rather than to the cleaners with ink stains around the pockets.
   
   Then there is the sheer variety that flourishes within somewhat unbending natural limits. As with dogs, there are only so many ways and means to make a pen. Yet the plethora of canine breeds on offer has its parallel in the dazzling display of pens of which photographs, paintings, and reproduced advertisements flavor this book.
   
   If you are so inclined, you may well find a resource that will educate your more thoroughly about fountain pens. But probably not with a more satisfactory outcome for the appreciative eye.



2. If you own three books on pens, this should be one of them.



3. I purchased this as a Father's Day gift for my dad, who is a fountain pen addict. He loved the book and the history, but especially the pictures of the old ads for some of the classic fountain pens. He continues to talk about the book and for about $20 I found a gift that has become one of his favorites.



4. This is a beautiful book. The covers and pages are of high quality papers. Steinberg has written a truly excellent book on history of the fountain pens. Though by no means it is comprehensive and detail but definitely more than adequate for any serious collectors as part of the essential knowledge on fountain pens. The illustrations are well laid out accompanying the story and they are simply superb. A very elegant book and suitable for both beginners and serious collectors. Even good as a gift to introduce someone to pen collecting. I simply love the book and a pleasure to read it.



5. I've received the book yesterday. It is not the first related to Fountain Pens that I see, but this one is really nice. It is not written as the others but as a review of the history and the kind of pens. I've read almost a half of it last night!

5 comments about Fisher Price Toys: A Pictorial Price Guide to the More Popular Toys.

1. This book is terrific! Tons of color, detailed pictures. I am a collector, and use this book to help identify which tiny accessories I need to find or identify. Invaluable! The focus is on toys from 1964-1990 ONLY, so if you collect from other periods this isn't the book you need. If you collect Little People (pre-1988), you need this book! I hope the authors will update it, with the "new" Little People included in a future edition.



2. I love this book. IT is a MUST for any new and seasoned Fisher Price Collector, especially those who collect Little People. The Pictures are great and the descriptions are excellent. I love this book, and my kids enjoy looking through it as well. It brought back so many memories from toys in my past, and ensures I know what I am getting myself into if I decide to make a purchase as a collector.



3. THIS BOOK HAS MANY COLORFUL PICTURES AND ACCUARTE DESCRIPTION OF EACH. I TOO HAVE JUST STARTED COLLECTING FISHER PRICE TOYS AND I FIND THIS MAKES MY SEARCHING MORE ENJOYABLE. THIS IS A MUST HAVE FOR THE OVERALL TOY COLLECTOR AND THE FISHER PICE COLLECTOR.



4. this book is a real treasure. I've just begun collecting Fisher Price toys the pictures and info are of great help. Friends/family who look thru this book also get a lot of pleasure from it and will reflect back over what toys they had as kids etc...I'm real happy I made the purchase.



5. This is a wonderful book! I loved the vivid pictures and descriptions of the playsets. If you love and collect Fisher Price, this book is for you!!

2 comments about Ceramics in America 2005 (Ceramics in America).

1. "Ceramics in America" is a wonderful publication. For the first volume of this journal, it is very well put together. The journal has lots of information on ceramics made and used in America. It is very helpful to those who are not very familiar with American ceramics.



2. This book is a must-have for ceramics enthusuasts! Having worked with historic ceramics for several years, I was familiar with many of the authors selected to write for the first "Ceramics in America" monograph. As much as I eagerly anticipated the work, I was not prepared for the level of excellence which has been achieved here. This volume contains cutting-edge ceramics research, illustrated with the latest in pottery technology and documentary history of the field. I was particularly impressed with two articles highlighting pottery techniques: the submission by Don Carpentier and Jonathan Rickard on annular or "dipt" wares, and also the work of team Michelle Erickson/Rob Hunter, who demonstrate early English slipwares production. This is yet another triumph for the Chipstone Foundation, who has successfully sponsored Luke Beckerdite's "American Furniture" series for years. This book is very highly recommended for archaeologists, collectors, curators, and other material culture specialists.

2 comments about Netsuke, Familiar and Unfamiliar: New Principles for Collecting.

1. There are many good thoughts for all, carvers, sellers, deallers, collectors.



2. Lavishly illustrated with color photographs of 790 netsuke (plus black and white photos of signatures) with explanatory text and organized into 45 brilliantly conceived categories. In the body of the text (new principles for collecting) Mr. Bushell fully displays the erudition one would expect from such a formidable collector but manages to do so in a way that is easy to grasp and immensely entertaining. Bravo, Mr. Bushell !

1 comments about Rare & Lovely Dolls: Two Centuries of Beautiful Dolls.

1. I had the pleasure of meeting John Darcy Noble in 1999, and we've quickly become kindred spirits in the world of dolls. You can imagine my pleasure when he announced the publication of Rare and Lovely Dolls of Two Centuries! Told only as John Darcy Noble can, the book takes you on a magical tour of history. Not only do you learn about the rare value of dolls in our history, but John tells of meeting these dolls in such a way that the reader is drawn into the life of each. For anyone interested in how dolls play a part in the history of mankind, for anyone who enjoys being drawn into different worlds, for anyone who would love to meet the author, I recommend Rare and Lovely Dolls of Two Centuries. It's a rare and lovely book.

1 comments about The Official Price Guide to Golf Collectibles.

1. When a book to bills itself as the "Official Price Guide" I would expect more. Over the years others have attempted to produce a price guide and due to the vast array of golf collectibles it is a daunting task. Unfortunately, this was one of the weakest eforts to date. The author merely skims over categories and quotes auction results for select items which is hardly what one expect from "The Official Price Guide of Golf Collectibles". The photos are small and poor quality which does not help either. All golf collectors will probably buy it to have in their library but it is definitely not a reference guide.